Multicolor imports to Cura

[MicWit 0]

I have read https://ultimaker.com/en/blog/34012-get-started-with-cura-printing-with-two-colors on doing a multi color (or material) print. I have an ender 3 (so single extruder) printer, so will cura (4.0) just put the change material code in the gcode?

Also, I am looking at creating the object in blender or fusion 360 and bringing it into cura, if I do multiple STL files, they will not line up when they are imported. Is there a way to do either a single file with multiple objects, or multiple files that will use the global coordinates so that when it comes into cura it won't align with the bed, rather are imported in place? I don't want to have to align everything manually in cura every time.

[ahoeben 1,950]

The article you link to is for multi-extrusion printers. On single extruder printers like yours, you have to "manually" insert material change gcode with postprocessing scripts.

 

The article does include how to "merge" your models after importing. I'm not familiar enough with Blender or Fusion 360 to tell you how to export multiple objects with the same origin.

[randyinla 14]

When opening up two separate .stl files that are meant to be a single 2-color print, they come in at different locations on the print bed. 

 

- Select one and set which printhead will print it

- Select the other and set the other printhead to print it

- Select both at the same time, right click on one of them and choose to merge them.  Cura will slide them perfectly on top of one another and remember which printhead should print which part

Edit: I've also noticed that the merged model will sometimes have the Z location changed.  Either -Z or put slightly above the build plate.  Always check Z position before slicing/printing.

 

You shouldn't ever have to manually move the two prints around, nor would you ever really be able to get them to line up correctly.

 

If you don't have a multi-color capable printer, then this does you no good.  It won't pause the print to let you change filament.  It's specifically for printers that already support 2-color printing, like the Ultimaker 3 or S5.  Hope this clears things up a bit.

Edited May 20, 2019 by randyinla